Bernice Timpa Ciambotti

Bernice Timpa Ciambotti, 75, of Lake Charles, LA passed away Thursday May 28th, 2015 with her daughters at her side. Mrs. Ciambotti was born September 25, 1939 in Lake Charles, LA to Sam and Ruth Lejeune Timpa. She was a lifelong resident of Lake Charles, LA, a graduate of St. Charles Academy and also McNeese State College, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Music Education. Mrs. Ciambotti will always be remembered for her love of writing, listening to, and teaching music, but mostly for her beautiful gift of singing. Her love of music began as a five year old girl attending Mass, where the sacred music stirred something inside of her. She went on to share this love by becoming a music teacher, having taught at St. Margaret Catholic Church and for the Calcasieu Parish School system. She also sang for many weddings, as well as many civic, community and charity events, and by her own estimation, sang for over twelve hundred funerals. She directed the Family Choir at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, was the first president of the McNeese Music Alumni Association, and past president of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Auxiliary. Mrs. Ciambotti was a Companion of Honor in the Diocese of Lake Charles, and an Associate of the Sisters of the Eucharistic Covenant. Her greatest accomplishment above all was that of utter, tireless devotion as a wife and mother, always teaching and setting an example for her daughters to have a reverent love for Christ, His Sacred Heart, to attend Mass, and to pray to Him and His Mother, Mary. She leaves to cherish her memory, Mary Elizabeth Ciambotti and Helen Ciambotti Johnson and husband Mark, and children, Lindsey and Janie Johnson all of Moss Bluff; one brother Hubert J. Timpa and wife Louise of Lake Charles, LA, and three sister- in- law, Betty Timpa of Lake Charles, LA Adeline Wolbert and husband Joseph of Calhoun, GA, and Josetta Ciambotti of Youngstown, OH. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Peter A. Ciambotti; a son, Peter A Ciambotti Jr; brother, Nichola Timpa and her parents. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 AM Monday, June 1st, 2015 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Monsignor James Gaddy will officiate. Interment services will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be at 3:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a Scripture Service at 6:00 PM Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will continue at 8:00 AM until 10:30 AM with a Rosary at 10:00 AM Monday, June 1st, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Home. Donations in her honor may be made to The McNeese Foundation, Box 91989, Lake Charles, LA 70609 designated to "The Bernice Timpa Ciambotti Music Education Scholarship".